§ Lord Palmerasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will change the layout of the recently opened Cockburnspath single carriageway bypass in order to ensure that high-sided lorries do not get blown over in high winds following three such accidents on 21st January.
§ The Minister of State, Scottish Office (Lord Fraser of Carmyllie)High-sided vehicles were overturned on a number of roads across Scotland including the recently opened Cockburnspath bypass on the A.1 during the unusually severe winds of 21st/22nd January. The possible risks from high winds on the new bypass were considered at the Public Local Inquiry in April 1988. The Reporter, in his report to my right honourable and learned friend, found that the wind risk was unlikely to be greater than on other exposed sections of the A.1. Warning signs are now to be erected on the approaches to the embankment on the Cockburnspath bypass similar to those already erected on the A.1 between Dunbar and Cockburnspath. The Roads Directorate of The Scottish Office Industry Department has also commissioned Strathclyde University to monitor wind speeds on the new road embankment. The results of the monitoring exercise will assist in the assessment of possible local diversion signing strategies if required for use for certain vehicle types in future periods of abnormal wind condition.